Distortion-Skating and Pokemon

The ask-blog of Rick and his team. (A sideblog of forta-ver--watchmaker)

[forta-ver--watchmaker]

I require more Sam headcanons! And/or Rick.

Okie-doke, two of my best boys, coming up!

Sam:In the pokemon-verse, I had him do a nuzlocke and then cameo in a plot-centric role for another. His starter was Deneb the torchic, but he only traveled with Tim in the cameo.

Sam’s skill with a spear comes from the story he’s from, since staves and stave-like weapons are his specialties.

Him being a forge-hand gave me the excuse to draw armor and weapons all the time. C’:

Sammy-boy is Ace like me!

Sam dislikes snakes. In his first story, the biggest bad likes to represent itself as a great black snake and other unpleasant things.

If Sam were a pokemon, he’d be a mienfoo (mixed with a zangoose, so he’d inherit the snake intolerance).

Duality!Sam’s full team would have been Deneb, Antares, Sulaphat, Tim, and probably Cass the azumarill or Bart the swellow.

Sam can sleep anywhere! Usually flopped like a ragdoll.

If Duality had continued (and I ever finished anything ^^;) I would have had Sam forced to fight the troubles Enri was dabbling in. Curses and spite and familial woes all around!

I also considered putting Sam into Distortion, but in his modern Nuz!form. Glad I didn’t go that route. XD

Rick:Like all my characters, he also came from another story. The funny part is, he’s a side character in the story Sam originally is from. Small world!

He’ll never get over how quickly he forms crushes. Or how easily discouraged he is about pursuing them.

Rick is a twin and a younger brother! He’s the rowdier twin and looked up to his big bro a lot… Too bad big bro let him down. Big-time.

Rick’s first pokemon was Amelie, and she taught him a lot about the responsibilities of being a trainer. He misses her so much.

Since I have a bad habit of doing multiple versions of characters’ stories, there are two versions of Pokeverse!Rick. One was part of me and my friend’s X-version adventure (he got to be in Distortion). The other was my White 2 and Y-version trainer (got to be in Hyperion).

Hyperion!Rick is a zoroark.

Distortion!Rick is a regular human.

He wears tacky things for attention; you won’t easily forget bright, ugly patterns so you sure as hell won’t forget the rowdy personality wearing them.

Rick can dance pretty well. The faster and more acrobatic, the better. (His ability rivals Enri’s).

Rick’s favorite battle type is rotations. He loves how quickly the tables can turn and how chaotic rotation battles get.

[dualityspear]

Welp, it’s been forever since I posted anything here… But this is relevant to the blog, so… yep!

[distortionrick]

^^^^^

[forta-ver--watchmaker]

THE END (dun dun dun)

THE END — i’ll make up an ending, or post the ending if i’ve written it

[[Hoo, boy - when I started typing this up, I almost went too far back and spoiled everything. I had to chop it down to the stuff post-climax, to keep things somewhat under wraps. Also, sorry about the verb tense being all over the place…]]

The storm continued eating the ground, trainers, pokemon and others winking out of existence. First a few, then more and more - faster and more violent with each second. Someone caught fire. They screamed only a short while and everyone near them fled. 

Some of them disappeared in pieces.

Rick reaches out and finds his fingers interlaced with Am’s leafy vines. Grayson worms his way up under R’s arm - the one not torn up in the fighting. Zea limps over, just barely beating out another place where the ground crumbled. He lays his head across R’s shoulders, droning softly. Lighting flashes everywhere, unnervingly close. The ozone burns R’s nose, static putting all hair on end.

Thyra stood protectively over top them, the bolts seeking her horns. Little by little, her stone armor chipped away; soon she was pulled out into the dark.

R and co hold one another tight as everything is whooshing away around them. R is crying, holding Amelie’s hand, then her head as he feels the strength going out of her, watches once more as the frost crinkles her softly curled leaves. She, too, was whisked away. R could hear screaming sobs, felt Z and Gr press in tighter.

That can’t be me. I’m curled too tight. That isn’t me. There’s no air to breathe. It’s all whooshing away. Watch it go! I’m not here. This isn’t real. It can’t be me.

Tears stream down his face, snot and spit joining it.

Zea goes. The tears go. It’s just him and Grayson, holding on in their own ways.

Nothing. Dark, cold, endless.

Then a flame. A voice. More voices.

The light shatters across the dark - stars and suns form, coalescing into galaxies. Galaxies repeating across infinite planes like broken glass. Slowly they begin to merge. Twenty, fifteen, eight, five…. Planets can be seen, moons, trees, sun through atmospheres.

See these three…. Only the blue skies, the watered worlds. Small children playing, the redheaded brothers repeated in each. Lives turned on their heads, each flung into new lives, new times. The eldest grows ruthless, cynical before his time. He dies young, bitter, and alone.

Now two twirl, tidally locked… On each, the survivor does not remember, but which brother is he? They grow, fending for themselves only a short time before a single kindness throws them into adventure. For each, a blessing in disguise.

Through tragedy, they adapt. They grow stronger than they know. Nothing is the same now, and they become restless. Each leaves their homeland in search of something. 

One seeks answers, gains questions, and becomes a leader. He learns to make the tough calls and accepts responsibility when his world comes crashing down. His death preserves the lives of many. In that, he finds peace.

The other longs for peace, finds turmoil, and meets a stranger. Though they bicker, they come to rely on one another. He becomes dependable, hard-working. Through perseverance and understanding, they survive similar crisis. When it comes time to part ways, he has the answer to his brother’s question.

These worlds wink, eye-to-eye at last, and then there is one.

Stars drift overhead as a small plane touches down. The runway’s lights blink, their flashes illuminating rows of lettuce and other produce along the median. The plane slows to a smooth stop, and its passengers disembark directly onto the tarmac.

“Wow,” one chuckles. He breathes deep, taking in the crisp mountain air. “Never thought I’d be glad, coming back. Y’know?”

A small grunt interrupts his musing and Rick turns to his travel-partner. The scrafty hefts his own carry-on and zips his jacket. It seems to stave off the chill and Dae gives another grunt, this time of approval. He takes care not to trip on the hems of his pants as he descends the stairs.

Rick smirks. “What d’ya think Dae? This is Unova.”

The scrafty shrugs, stuffing one hand into his pocket. The other steadies the duffle bag across his shoulders. “Seems alright… Colder than I like.” 

“Heh,” Rick pats Dae’s shoulder, “’s only ‘cuz it’s dark. We’ll be headed someplace warmer in the morning.”

Together, they walked to the town’s one hotel. Rick chatted about the area the whole way and Dae listened. By the time they got to their room, Rick’s chatter had turned towards Aspertia and the lady who lived there. Dae’d never seen his trainer so happy about another human’s existence. When Rick finally dozed off in the wee hours of the morning, Dae shook his head and smiled.

“Sleep good, man. Sweet dreams.”

Welcome home….

[forta-ver--watchmaker]

Discounted Pokemon Commissions

(Inked Trainer+Team)

I’m just gonna throw this out there, but my Pokemon commissions will almost always be considerably cheaper than anything else I offer. It’s my comfort zone, drawing those lovable pocket monsters…

With that in mind, here’s a list of what’s discounted right now: 

Just Pokemon: Sketch, shaded sketch, colored sketch, inked (not shown below)

Sketches start at $15, +5 per extra pokemon

Keep reading

[forta-ver--watchmaker]

Reminder that this is still going!

[distortionrick]

Sorry to be using this blog to signal boost, but crazy things have happened and I need this to reach a wider group... My sister's dA journal explains it a lot better than I can right now: http://artheartdog.deviantart.com/journal/Emergency-Commissions-632088160 So please take a look?

[forta-ver--watchmaker]

Discounted Pokemon Commissions, batch 1

(Inked Trainer+Team)

Keep reading

[distortionrick]

[[Snippet from Rick’s W2 adventure]]

Funny how things don’t change much, especially when everything’s changed.

Hadn’t been through Castelia in years - not since I was 10 - and plenty of time for the heat to die down. And if it hadn’t, I’m old enough now that my looks don’t match so much. Nobody would recognize me on first look, so I should be able to go anywhere normal people can without much fuss.

On top of that, I’m legit now! Licensed and everything. Already have two gym badges to my name, too.

Though, in my case “legit” still had strings attached… Strings the authorities didn’t hesitate to pull the moment they ID’d me.

So instead of coasting and ghosting, taking my time to enjoy the tourist-y sights relatively anonymous, here I am doing fetch quests and playing messenger-boy. Thought I was done with that crap.

I hate doing legwork. Especially for other people…

Especially when it makes me talk to penthouse reps: subclass of those “people” high-rollers always refer to. And these ones have the job of fielding house-calls for their clients.

I’ve just finished a particularly frustrating chat (Ammie just barely salvaged into useful info) when I see the kid. He can’t be older than 9 and a girl of similar age is trying to talk to him. He’s backed himself against a potted plant along the wall, and she’s piling on the questions. He manages a nod or shakes his head when he can. Otherwise all he can get out is the occasional “ehm,” “oru,” or “szoh… uhhhh”.

She’s too young to understand his discomfort, but she readily picks up on his curiosity and potential for friendship.

My bad mood lifts a little seeing him struggle. I remember how tough the language was when I first learned.

“hey kid. can you write out what wanna say i got some paper and a pen t borrow.”

His eyes go wide, and he glances around the lobby before shaking his head. He looks like he might say something, but bites his lip instead.

“hey no worries. i got you covered right now they just hear it as a foreign form of human speak. can help hide your tail though... not so good at tricking eyes for stuff that isn real close to me.”

I flash a reassuring smile and he slowly smiles back.

“i ehm... i... thanks but no. for the paper... i still learning and my spelling is bad. handwriting bad too..... trying to learn the.... talking part but... get a little scared forget words sometimes... lot.”

I nod, pausing while I think. The area has new people in it, true, but most of the ‘mon settle for life unless they’re forced to move. So the folk that helped me learn were probably still around.

Hopefully.

During the pause, Ammie and the little girl had started looking between me and the kid. The first had her brow scrunched, probably suspecting something shady to go down soon. Completely without a reason, of course.

The girl just looked curious. It’s not everyday an older kid willingly talks to a youngster. Probably wondered what the occasion was.

I shrug and look back to the kid.

“i don know if they still around but i learned from old zelta and her kids... you how to get origins... er castelia park not the big one with fountain small tree.”

The kid nods, but he looks a little confused.

“you gonna have to cut through the sewers okay if you don mind too much affection ask th woobats for help. they usually happy t lend a wing and their personal expertise... just be ready hear them talk. lot.”

He looks a little more confident and nods.

“so i go to her and she teach me human speak”

“yep. just ask for mrs. zelta and tell her rude sent ya.”

I blink, remembering how our lessons had gone. She was real stern and I was always goofing around…

“.....on second thought maybe don tell her i sent you. if she sees me again never let live it down. wasn her.... best student.”

I chuckle and turn to go.

“oh and if you can get someone to pack snacks make sure t bring her a lemonade or some icecream. she loves that stuff. heh.... how i got out of the worst lectures y”

Am frowns and swats my arm, but I just laugh.

“hang in there kid you pick it up don worry.>”

[[In which Rick was a bad kid and now is an Upstanding Citizen and has made it to Castelia city. He needs to challenge Burgh and get it over with, but he’s avoiding the creepy bug gallery with the weird performance artists that like to hang around it. So he gets caught up running errands, then promptly gets distracted.

This is why you can’t expect anything from him: too easily distracted. Like his writer. ^^;]]

[pencilcat]

I love coloring the lines of my lineart directly, and having it separate from the background is super-useful. Here’s a quick trick I learned for doing just that. 

Want more tutorials? Please consider supporting my Patreon! 

[distortionrick]

Bennett doesn't do well with blood. For all her jokes and boasting when it's not her blood dripping out on the pavement like rainfall she shuts down, mile-a-minute mind blank. What does she do? Hands shaking, she's clenching her phone in her fists tight enough for the case to groan in protest. What does she do? Someone's screaming for Xiang. It must be her. The cat will fix it. The cat can fix anything. This isn't going bad. It can't. It can't.

“Aw, Bennie n-no... no Ben-n-nie, please don’t cry. I-I’m f-fine.... honest!”

He’s pale and his teeth are chattering from the blood-loss, but he doesn’t seem to notice. He’s more focused on the lingering threat to her well-being.

“Just go....” Tears stream down his face. “Y-you... c-c-can’t .... sstay..... Go......”

Please...

[[Because Rick’s absolutely the sort to take a hit and still worry more about the person he took it for. He just wants his friends to be okay.]]

[nerdyspeedstergirl-archive]

My character takes a fatal blow intended for your character. How does your character react?

[dxb-resources]

[distortionrick]

This is happening. It's gonna be a thing.

I'm gonna finish out Rick's story. Starting back towards the start - with all the information I left out for time's sake - I'm going to tell the tale that this stupid kid and his team deserve. And you guys'll get to see more about everything that makes this twiggy son-of-a-gun who he is.

I want to show how everyone he met affected him, even in small ways, and how his team reacted. I want to show his team's side adventures, their fears and interests, and how everything tied together in the end.

It'll start small - quick sketches and such, little character and setting vignettes - while I pull together actual comic pages. But eventually, I'd like to treat everything in comics; even if they're only a few panels long, I need the practice.

But yeah...

Just wanted to get this up somewhere as a reminder. Expect stuff to be posted around June. And if I don't, feel free to pester me for an explanation as to why. Hold me accountable.

I need to get my rear in gear if I'm serious about the whole storytelling thing. Especially if I want that to be my profession.

[distortionrick]

sanitys-rebellion replied to your post: ((Wow, I’m so outta practice with the …

"Well, hello there, scruffy handsome man. How you doin’?" Bennett please stop hitting on everyone you see, this is why you couldn’t go to space.

*raises a brow, smirking* “Well hello to you, little Miss… Bennett, right?” *shrugs* “I’m doing well enough, I s’pose, if still soggy from all this rain… How about you?”

((Hehehe. His name is Ezekiel, and I don’t think Bennett really wants much to do with him - he’s definitely a manipulative sleaze. A handsome, scruffy, insists-he’s-a-hunter-but-js-probably-actually-a-poacher sleaze.))

[distorted-smartphone]

[Handsome and manipulative sounds like her not-Digby boss back home. So maybe that’s the draw there? Diggs is apparently the exception, not the rule to Bennett’s ‘like list’. Silent Xiang disapproval from the distance.]

[distortionrick]

((Oh, well then. Yep - that's probably it. Xiang won't have too much trouble keeping him at bay, though. And Chips'll definitely help on that front. Zeke's wary of cats and finds most canines absolutely distasteful.))

[distortionrick]

sanitys-rebellion replied to your post: ((Wow, I’m so outta practice with the ...

"Well, hello there, scruffy handsome man. How you doin’?" Bennett please stop hitting on everyone you see, this is why you couldn’t go to space.

*raises a brow, smirking* "Well hello to you, little Miss... Bennett, right?" *shrugs* "I'm doing well enough, I s'pose, if still soggy from all this rain... How about you?"

((Hehehe. His name is Ezekiel, and I don't think Bennett really wants much to do with him - he's definitely a manipulative sleaze. A handsome, scruffy, insists-he's-a-hunter-but-js-probably-actually-a-poacher sleaze.))

[distortionrick]

((Wow, I'm so outta practice with the digital coloring it's not even funny...

Just thought I'd post what I've been working on lately - some sketches of a major character whom I'm debating whether or not to make an app for... I mean, he's gonna be important to Rick's story, but I don't know if anyone'll want to use him in anything they're working on, so what's the point of drawing up an app for him?

Regardless, I needed to work out a more solid look and here we are.

...

I think my decision to make an app for him will depend on how I'm able to proceed with the story I had planned. I'm nervous to continue with what I have in mind for fear that it's a little too out in left field. ): 

But yeah. Character sketches, potential pokemon, doodles, etc. Hopefully this helps me kick myself back into a productive, story-making gear; this last round really kicked my butt and I'm still just drained from the whole thing.))

[distortionrick]

Wet Works: R3-1

(( *giggles* *cackles hysterically* *flops on the floor like an idiot*

Well, it's as done as it's gonna get and I'm fairly exhausted. I'll try and have the prologue and epilogue passably complete before they announce results, but I can't make any promises, the way things are shaping up on the homefront... Regardless, I hope you guys enjoy what I got so I'm just gonna leave this hear and skedaddle again.

I'll be back later, hopefully with more apologies, rp responses, and art at the ready. ^^;))

[thetinywallflower]

[distortionrick]

thetinywallflower:

She entered the living room, eyes scanning the room for anything out of the ordinary and almost immediately falling on Amelie. She seemed to be asleep but Rose wasn’t too sure. Her expression relaxed somewhat as she scanned over the room again for any other movement. If she heard it correctly, it probably had been this serperior that made the noise she heard. She was the only new addition to the room she could see-and quite a large one at that.

She glided over to one of the arm chairs and sat down. Rosemary figured if this new company was not really asleep, she would find out soon enough, and if she was, then it didn’t matter. She let out a heavy sigh and her demeanor began to change around her facial features. For the first time in perhaps a long time, Rosemary looked tired.

Amelie's ears flicked towards the new presence and she yawned, giving herself a chance to identify its scent. Pokemon, female, well-groomed... ice type?  The newcomer sighed and the entire feel of the room changed; Amelie cracked an eyelid to investigate further. 

Oh, she was an older girl, wasn't she... looked exactly like Amelie felt - exhausted from so long spent putting on a brave face and a calm facade.

For a moment, Amelie watched in silence.

Would this lady be offended by a stranger's witness? Some would prefer to maintain the illusion of control, at least in their outward appearance. Or perhaps she would enjoy having someone to confide in? It was lonely holding one's fears close to their heart...

"Excuse me, madam-- Do I, perhaps, have you to thank for the hospitality shown my trainer?"

[distortionrick]

She threw up her arms. "Okay that is it." Maybelle managed to grab Rick's collar before he could manage to slip away. With an easy hoist over her shoulder, she proceeded to carry him out if the situation he got himself in. "Until you cool your little curly q's down, you're gonna be right here next to me, hun."

Wild-eyed, face red, and nostrils flared, Rick could only swear vehemently as the stocky woman carried him off. It didn’t help his (false sense of) pride any, nor did it do any good for his public image, but he didn’t care. He was going to yell and squirm until his arms failed and his lungs gave out… or he ate dirt from face-planting over Maybelle’s back.

A very real possibility, considering how he’d gone all knees and elbows on her in his bid to escape….

[thetinywallflower]

Maybelle shrugged. “Eh, this and that. Field generators, trying to make food replicators from these silly microwave things and stoves, things like that. But I mostly work with formulas and chemistry. I got this one I have been working on since I got here, the equation on how to try to reverse all that has happened so far, but it is a near impossible one to uncover, I hate to admit.”

As she continued to explain to him about some of what she was working on, she failed to notice the obvious internal tension Rick was going through. Truth be told, she knew it was getting late when she first met him and automatically assumed they went home together. Or at least, that was what she wanted to think. It made sense to her based on their obvious closeness. He probably didn’t have much to worry about, sadly.

[distortionrick]

He frowned. Here was someone talking about reversing all this madness with science, when people still didn't know what made time and space tick, so to speak.

Rick shook his head.

It didn't help that he couldn't wrap his brain around half of what she mentioned. Field generators? Food replicators? What in the world were either of those? Maybe it would have been better not to ask - better to just ignore it and continue on towards food.

Or maybe... She was preoccupied; what if he just... slipped off somewhere?

A smirk played across his lips and he backed away. Maybe he could escape while she was distracted.

[distortionrick]

[askthesnakeboss]

Kalahari took in air slowly, as if he were savoring it. Although he was enjoying his time with Amelie, he felt guilty. He didn’t see the warp as much of a chaotic event, but simply just another chapter on the world’s history, and for him it was better than the last.

"It seems more or less like a collaborative effort. With leaders and a thought out plan. I have faith in pokemon and humanity alike…" He trailed off, falling silent.

The Cacturn wanted to believe that. With all his heart, he really did, but he dared not to speak what he truly felt. Experience was his only teacher, and it had taught him that this plan was anything but foolproof. 

[distortionrick]

Amelie nodded, face grim. But Kal had gone silent, preoccupied.

She sighed, taking his hand, and smiled.

"I cannot say I have as much faith in our warp-mates or our leaders, but I do know that this is not the end. Arceus forbid that Armageddon look like this...."

A quick, silent prayer followed that statement, then she nodded again, assured.

"This is but one trial among many to come."

[distortionrick]

To Rick: [text] You worry me so much sometimes. :(

As he wandered back, Rick glanced through the other texts and frowned. Wow he’d missed a bunch…. Most were from Ming Yue and Bennett, but a few seemed to be from the PokeCenter’s cell. How odd.

The last one gave him pause.

Worry? I worry ‘em? Why me? There’s plenty of folk doing crazy shit here… 

Rick shook his head, glanced back down, and shook it again. This had to be a mistake. Wrong number. Yeah… This was a text meant for someone else.

Right?

"…. How so?" He typed, cautiously. If it was a mistake, he’d know soon enough.

[askadan-deactivated20230123]

Daniel had gone back to flipping through the lengthy list of inappropriate messages he’d sent a couple of days ago and was startled enough to jump and yelp when the phone suddenly came to life in his hands. When he recovered from the surprise, he realized that the phone he’d just held had somehow ended up under the tv on the other side of the room. Cursing his skittishness, he went to get the phone back.

The message he’d received wasted no time revealing that his original message had been read. It shouldn’t have mattered to him but after everything he’d done as of late, he couldn’t exactly afford to seem as disoriented and incompetent as he kept making himself look.

Then again, this reply seemed about as disjointed as his own thoughts, not to mention that the boy kept getting himself in trouble all the time… and what with all this water lately… And the bad weather, and half the town being underwater… Maybe the boy hadn’t gotten enough sleep? Maybe he was now homeless and tired and starving and yet too stubborn to tell anyone? ‘It’s a possibility,' he thought, 'it’s probably nothing… but then again it could be something…better text him just to be sure -no! No, better call him. Just in case…’

Just in case, he kept thinking as he lifted the phone to his ear.

[distortionrick]

Rick had just recovered from a small stumble when the phone in his hand vibrated wildly. He would have slipped off this ridge-line if he hadn’t had his feet already set.

Stupid fuckin’ phone….stupid loud settings…

He about snarled as he glanced down at the screen, but his expression quickly turned to puzzlement.

P.C. phone? Why’s the Center calling me back? What kinda fuckery is this?

He scowled and lowered himself into a crouch while he took the call. This could take a while and he didn’t want to be distracted on this walk - the path had been hard enough to travel in daylight. With the sky further darkened by clouds, his phone’s flashlight was the only light he had. And it was barely just enough to make out where he was going....

Without it he didn’t dare.

Maybe it would’ve been better to have sent out Am or Glam to help him… Or at least to keep watch.

Rick found himself running a thumb along his pokeballs when the call patched through.

"Hello?" A familiar voice came over the tinny little speakers.

"Yeah, what’s up?"